War and Occupation in Iraqi Fiction (Edinburgh Studies in Modern Arabic Literature)

**Examines tangible experiences of war and occupation in recent Iraqi fiction** The last three decades in Iraqi history can be summarized in these words: dictatorship, war and occupation. After the fall of Saddam’s regime Iraqi novelists are not only writing about the occupation and the current disintegration of Iraq but are also revisiting previous wars that devastated their lives. This book examines how recent Iraqi fiction about war depicts the Iraqi subject in its relation to war, coercion, subjugation and occupation. The theoretical medieval concept of the __homo sacer__, the killable, as defined by Giorgio Agamben is used to explore the lives and the experiences of different war actors such as the soldier, the war deserter, the camp detainee and the suicide bomber depicted in their “bare life” as men doomed to death in the necropolitical context. __War and Occupation in Iraqi Fiction__ is an exploration of fictional works by a new generation of leading Iraqi authors such as Ali Badr, Shakir Nuri, Najm Wali, Hdiya Hussein and others. It brings to light the overarching continuum in the production of __homines sacri__ in Iraq. Instances of __homo sacer__ under the dictatorship are complemented by new instances found in the camp and under the state of exception of the occupation and the war on terror. **Key Features*** Explores fictional works by a new generation of leading Iraqi authors such as Ali Badr, Shakir Nuri, Najm Wali and Hdiya Hussein * Provides a historical contextualization of the Iraqi novel before and after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime * Presents an analytical and critical study of a selected corpus of novels about war and occupation in Iraq * Explores tangible experiences of war and occupation – such as desertion, camp detention and suicide bombing – in the Iraqi novel The last three decades in Iraqi history can be summarized in these words: dictatorship, war and occupation. After the fall of Saddam's regime Iraqi novelists are not only writing about the occupation and current disintegration of Iraq but are also revisiting previous wars that devastated their lives. Ikram Masmoudi examines how recent Iraqi fiction about war depicts the Iraqi subject in its relation to war, coercion, subjugation and occupation. The theoretical concept of the Homo Sacer, the killable, as defined by Giorgio Agamben, is used to explore the lives and the experiences of different war actors such as the soldier, the war deserter, the camp detainee and the suicide bomber depicted in in their 'bare life' as sacred men doomed to death in the necropolitical context. About the series: Edinburgh Studies in Modern Arabic Literature, dedicated to the study of modern Arabic literature, is unique and unprecedented. It includes contemporary genre studies, single-author studies, studies of particular movements, trends, groupings, themes and periods in Modern Arabic Literature, as well as country/region-based studies. Examines tangible experiences of war and occupation in recent Iraqi fiction . The last three decades in Iraqi history can be summarized in these words: dictatorship, war and occupation. War and Occupation in Iraqi Fiction is a groundbreaking study of Iraqi fiction published after 2003 examining the depiction of marginal experiences of war and spanning there decades in Iraqi history. Using as lense a medieval concept borrowed from Roman ancient law the homo sacer this study examines how this concept applies to the contemporary Iraqi subject who becomes dehumanized and devalued in the context of war and occupation. Key features: Explores fictional works by a new generation of leading Iraqi authors such as Ali Badr, Shakir Nuri, Najm Wali and Hdiya Hussein * Provides a historical contextualization of the Iraqi novel before and after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime * Presents an analytical and critical study of a selected corpus of novels about war and occupation in Iraq * Explores tangible experiences of war and occupation - such as desertion, camp detention and suicide bombing - in the Iraqi novel The Last Three Decades In Iraqi History Can Be Summarized In These Words: Dictatorship, War And Occupation. After The Fall Of Saddam's Regime Iraqi Novelists Are Not Only Writing About The Occupation And Current Disintegration Of Iraq But Are Also Revisiting Previous Wars That Devastated Their Lives. Ikram Masmoudi Examines How Recent Iraqi Fiction About War Depicts The Iraqi Subject In Its Relation To War, Coercion, Subjugation And Occupation. The Theoretical Concept Of The Homo Sacer, The Killable, As Defined By Giorgio Agamben, Is Used To Explore The Lives And The Experiences Of Different War Actors Such As The Soldier, The War Deserter, The Camp Detainee And The Suicide Bomber Depicted In In Their 'bare Life' As Sacred Men Doomed To Death In The Necropolitical Context. Ikram Masmoudi. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 220-227) And Index. Examines tangible experiences of war and occupation in recent Iraqi fiction. This provides a historical contextualisation of the Iraqi novel before and after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. It presents an analytical and critical study of a selected corpus of novels about war and occupation in Iraq. Title page Copyright Contents Series Editor’s Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction 1 The Iran-Iraq War and the Bare Life of the War Deserter 2 Postmodern War, the Gulf War and the Iraqi Soldier 3 Bare Life in the ‘New Iraq’ 4 Bare Life in the Camp Conclusion Bibliography Index